Commodity cabinet



' Aug. 10,1926.

J. H. BOYE GOIIODITY CABINET riled larch 19. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug.10 1926.

J. H. BOYE col monI'rY CABINET Filed March 19. 1923 2 Sheets-Shunt 2Patented Aug. 10, 1926.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES H. BOYE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE BOYE NEEDLECOMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

COMMODITY CABINET.

Application filed March 19, 1923. Serial No. 626,118.

This invention relates particularly to a commodity-cabinet of the typein which a rotary carrier is mounted in a suitable oasing, such cabinetbeing adapted to the purpose of storing and dispensing small articles ofmerchandise, such as needles, shuttles and bobbins for sewing machines.

It may be stated here that, in practice cabinets of the generalcharacter mentioned are employed by dealers throughout the country, andsuch cabinets are commonly placed upon counters where they are liable tobe injured by people leaning upon them or even sitting upon them. 7

The primary object of the present invention is toprovide an improvedconstruction which affords a reinforced top for the casing and. which isadapted to obviate danger of injury to the closure employed, this beinga particularly vulnerable point in cabinets of the type referred to. Afurther object is to provide improved means for enabling the requiredarticle to be located with greater facility. The invention isillustrated in its preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings, inwhich- Fig. 1 represents a broken plan view of a cabinet constructed inaccordance with the invention; Fig. 2, a broken plan view of an innercover section employed; Fig. 3, a broken plan view of a modification ofthe inner cover section; Fig. 4:, a broken vertical sectional view takenas indicated at line 4;

- of Figs. 1 and 5; and Fig. 5, a broken horizontal sectional view,looking upwardly, the view being taken as indicated at line :5 of Fig.4c.

In the construction illustrated, A represents a lower or base-section ofa casing; A an inner cover-section; A an outer covers section; B, ashaft journaled centrally in the casing, the lower end of the shaftbeing supported in the anti-friction-bearing B and the upper end of theshaft projecting through the top walls of the cover-sections; C, acarrier-disk fixedly mounted on the shaft B; D, a radial closure-platewhich operates in the space between the inner and outer cover-sections,the inner end of the closure-plate being equipped with a shank D, whichis disposed within the casing and which has its inner end pivoted orjournaled on the shaft B; E, a slidable locking-bolt, which is adaptedto be actuated by the closure in such manner that when the closureplate1s in the open position the carrier C Wlll be locked against rotation;E, a locking-ring rigidly secured to the central por-,

The base-section A of the casing preferv ably comprises a sheet metalmember which constitutes the bottom wall and an upturned peripheralflange. The inner cover-section A comprises a sheet metal member whichis suitably stamped or pressed to provide a top wall 1 and a dependingflange 1 the lower portion of said flange being enlarged or offsetoutwardly, as indicated at 1 and fitting upon an enlargement oroutwardly off-set upper edge portion of the upturned flange of thebase-section A. The outer cover-section A comprises a sheet metal memberwhich is suitably pressed to provide a top wall or disk 2 and adepending flange 2 being relatively short and resting at its lower edgeon the enlargement 1 of the flange of the inner cover-section.

The upper wall of the casing, which comprises the spaced disks 1 and 2,is provided with a radial hand-opening 3. That is, the disks 1 and 2 areprovided with registering radial openings, through which the hand may beinserted to remove articles from the carrier. The disk 1 is provided atsuitable intervals with upwardly struck projections rests, so that thetop wall of the outer coversection cannot be crushed or bent downwardly.

The closure D, which is in the form of a .sheet metal plate, is ofdimensions somewhat greater than the dimensions of the handopening 3, sothat when the closure is in the closed position, the edges will overlapthe margins of the hand-opening, as indicated at 5 in Figs. 1 and 2.This overlapping occurs at the outer and inner ends, as well as atthesides, it being understood that the closure D is interposed between thetop disks 1 and 2 and rests and slides upon the top or lugs 4 upon whichthe disk or top wall 2 disk 1. The closure is equipped at one of itsinner corners with a knob 6, by means of which the closure may beactuated. The shank D is in the form of a bar, which has its outer endportion struck upwardly, as indicated at 7, this portion being rigidlysecured to the closure I) by means of rivets 8. As has been indicated,the shank D is journaled on the shaft B. It has a projection extendingbeyond the shaft and provided with a cam-slot 9, in which works acamstud 10, which is rigidly secured to the shank of the locking-bolt E.A guide-plate 11 is rigidly secured to the under side of the centralportion of the disk 1 and is provided with a downturned flange ll whicha guide slot therein through which extends the shank of the bolt E. Theshank of the bolt E is flat and is provided with slot 12 through whichthe shaft B extends. Thus the locking-bolt is properly guided. In theform shown, the locking-bolt is provided with a spear-shaped head whichdepends within the circle of the locking-ring E.

As appears from Fig. 4, the anti-frictionbearing B is of very simpleconstruction.

It comprises a cup member 13, which is secured to the central portion.of the bottom wall of the casing-section A by means of a screw 13*. Inthe bottom of the cup is located a hardened disk 13 which is capable ofturning in its seat. The lower end of the shaft B is provided with arounded or part-spherical hardened extremity 1% whicn rests upon thedisk 13.

The carrier C is shown as provided with a depressed central portion 15to which is secured dished disk, or brace member 16, the carrier issecured to the shaft by means of a pin 17. The depressed portion 15supports a sleeve 18, which is journaled on the shaft and whose upperend affords a support for the shank of the bolt E.

The dial-plate F comprises a comparatively heavy disk of sheet metalwhich is provided near its outer periphery with a series of presserfootsockets F. The dial is also provided near its periphery with a series ofneedle-prints F The presser-foot sockets are preferably formed bypunching the metal from the disk by means of punches adapted to give thedesired contour to the various sockets.

In the illustration given, the even numbers of the annular series ofnumbers H are assigned to needles and the odd numbers are assigned toshuttles and bobbins. The top disk 2 is shown provided near itsperiphery with a series of needle numbers I and witha series of shuttleand bobbin numbers J and associated with these series of numbers are thenames of various sewing machines, the name of each sewing machine beingset opposite the numbers which apply to the needles or parts of thatmachine.

The numbers employed in the annular series I and J correspond with thenumbers employed in the annular dial-series H.

The actuating member G comprises a pointer-arm 19 and a needle-carryingarm, or matrix-arm 20. The matrix 20 is adapted to have the base-portionof a needle placed therein. By rotating the carrier the needle iscarried around over the series of needle-prints F until the point of theneedle comes into registration with the point of a print. The number inthe series H which corresponds with that print is the number assigned tothe corresponding needle in the cabinet.

Where the name of the machine is known, the number may be found byreferring to the list I or the list J, as the case may be. lVhere thepurchaser has a needle, but does not know the name of the machine, theexpedient just explained above is employed to ascertainv the numberassigned to thatsize and make of needle.

In some cases, the purchaser does not know the name of the machine andis without a needle as a sample. In such case, the presser-foot of themachine may be em ployed as a means for ascertaining the make of themachine, this method being based upon the fact. that while there aremany sewing machines on the market bearing different namesthe so-calledstenciled machine'sthe machine parts and sizes correspond with thecomparatively few makes of machines, and these makes may be identifiedby the size and shape of the presserfoot of the machine. Accordingly,where the customer can produce a presser-foot, this presser-foot istried in the different presserfoot sockets or matrices, until the rightone is found. The corresponding number of the annular series H gives theshuttle and bobbin numbers, and the next number to the right, orclockwise, gives the needle number. In Fig. 1, the needle number is alsoprinted in the bottom of the presser-foot socket, that is upon the disk2 at the bottom of the presser-foot socket.

The dial plate F is secured to the top disk 2 in any suitable manner, asby means of small rivets 21.

In Fig. 3, A represents a modified form of the inner cover-section. Thefigure shows a broken plan View of such modified form, in which the topwall 1 of the coversection is skeletonized, as by providing cutawayportions or openings 22 in an integrally formed disk. Any suitableexpedient for stiffening the disk may be employed in this connection, ifdesired, as for instance by ribbing the margins of the' openings asindicated at 22 In the use of the improved machine, the articles to bestored and vended are mounted on the rotary carrier C in any suitablemanner. For example, bobbins (not-shown) may be loaded into suitableholders which can be removably mounted on the disk C in a wellknownmanner. In Fig. 4, the carrier is shown loaded at one portion withneedletubes 23 which extend through openings in the disk C and areprovided with flanges 23 which rest upon the disk. These tubes areprovided with removable caps 23* as now well understood in the art. Thetubes or holders vfor the various parts or articles are numbered, andthey are so arranged on sectors of'the carrier C as to bring theappropriate tube or holder under the hand-opening when the pointer 19 isturned to the corresponding number of the dial-series H. hen the name ofthe sewing machine is known, the number may be ascertained from thecolumn I or J, as the case may be; when the name is not known but aneedle is available, the needle may be placed in the matrix 20 and thecarrier turned until the needle registers accurately with one of theneedle-prints, the number may then be noted, and the pointer 19 may thenbe turned to the corresponding number of the dial-series H, which willbring the desired part or article under the hand-opening 3. Where thename is not known and a needle isnot available, the presser-foot may beemployed and the number thus ascertained in the manner alreadydescribed, after which the pointer 19 may be turned to that number ofthe dial-series H, which will bring the desired part beneath thehand-opening.

he foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness ofunderstanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understoodtherefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly aspermissible, in view of the prior art.

What I regard as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In combination in a commodity-cabinet, a bottom casing-section havingan upturned flange, an inner top casing-section having a downturnedflange engaging and supported on said first-named flange, a secondcoversection having a downturned flange embracing the flange of saidinner cover-section, the top walls of said cover-sections being providedwith a hand-opening, a carrier journaled in the casing, a closure-platesupported on the inner top wall and working in the space between the topwalls of said cover-sections and having margins overlapping the marginsof the hand-opening when the closure-plate is in the closed position, ashank disposed below the top wall of the inner cover-secti0n andconnected at its front end with the closure-plate, and a carrier lockingdevice actuated by said shank in the operation of opening and closingthe closure.

2. In combination in a commodity-cabinet, a lower casing-sectionprovided with an upturned flange, an inner sheet metal coversectioncomprising atop disk and a downturned flange which is supported on saidfirst-named flange, an outer sheet metal cover-section comprising a topdisk and a downturned flange embracing the flange of gins bordering thehand-opening of the inner top disk, a carrier mounted on said shaft andequipped with a locking-ring, a shank connected with the inner end ofsaid closure-plate and disposed beneath the top disk of the inner coversection, said shank being journaled on said shaft, a lockingboltcoact-ing with said locking-ring, and cam-connections between saidlocking-bolt and said shank, whereby the locking-bolt will be actuatedin the operation of swinging the closure to the open and closedpositions.

- 3. In combination in a commodity-cabinet, a lower sheet metalcasing-sectionhaving an upturned flange and provided centrally with abearing, an inner sheet metal cover-section having a downturned flangemounted on said first-named flange, an outer sheet metal cover-sectionhavinga downturned flange embracing the flange of the innercover-section, said cover-sections being provided in their top wallswith a handopening, spacing means between the top walls of thecover-sections adapted to maintain a space between the cover-sections inthe vicinity of the hand-opening, a closureplate mounted in said space,said plate having a shank extending inwardly from its inner end anddisposed beneath the top wall. of the inner cover-section, a carriershaft having its lower end journaled in said bearing and having itsupper portion extending through said shank and through the top walls ofsaid cover-sections, a carrier disk mounted on said shaft and equippedwith a locking-ring, a coacting locking-bolt, camconnections betweensaid locking-bolt andv the shank of said closure, a dial at the outerside of the top wall of the outer cover-section, and an actuating armsecured to the upper end of said shaft and playing over said dial.

4. In combination in a commodity cabinet, a casing, a central shaftjournaled in said casing and having its upper end projecting above thetop wall thereof, a carrier disk fixedly mounted on said shaft, a dialplate mounted on the outer side of the top wall of said casing, saiddial plate being provided with a series of needle-prints, a pointer armsecured to the upper end of said shaft, and a needle carrying armsecured to the upper end of said shaft and provided with a needlematrix, said needle carrying arm coacting with the needle-prints of saiddial plate, for the purpose set forth.

5. In combination in a commodity-cabinet, a casing, a commodity carrierjournaled in said casing having an actuating shaft e2;- tending abovethe casing, aseparately formed dial plate disposed above the top wall ofsaid casing and secured thereto, said shaft projecting tln-oughsaid dialplate and said dial plate being provided with a series of presser-footsockets, an annular series of dial numbers associated with said dialplate, certain of said numbers being; associated with and correspondingwith said presserfoot sockets, and an actuating arm secured to the upperend of said shaft and playing over said dial plate.

6. In combination in a commodity-cabinet, a lower casing-section havi anupturned flange, an inner sheet metal coversection comprising a disk anda downturned flange supported on said first-named flange, an outercover-sectionhaving a downturned flange embracing the flange of saidinner cover-section, a central shaft journaled in said casing and havingits upper end extending through said disks, a separately formed dialplate supported on and secured to the disk of the outer c ver-section, apointer secured to the shaft above said dial plate, a closure-plateworking in the space between the disks of said cover-sections, saidcover-sections being provided with registering hand-openings with whichsaid closureplate is associated, a carrier disk mounted on said shaft, ashank extending rear-wardly from said. cover-plate and disposed belowthe oisk of the inner cover-section and journaled on said shaft, and acarrier-locking device actuated by the shank of said closure-- plate.

7. In combination in a commodity-cabinet, a casing provided in its topwall with a hand-opening, a central shaft journaled in said casing andequipped within the casing with a carrier, a dial plate disposed abovethe top wall of the casing and secured thereto, said dial-plate beingprovided with a series of presser-foot matrices and with a se ries ofneedle-prints, an annular series of numbers associated with saidpresser-foot sockets and said needle-prints, a pointer arm connectedwith said shaft above said dial plate, a needle carrying arm connectedwith said sha t above said dial plate and provided with a needle-matrixcoacting with the needle-prints of said dial, and a closure for saidhand-opening.

8. In a con'imodity-cabinet, a casing com prising a base-section andinner and outer cover-sections presenting spaced top-walls provided witha hand-opening, a central shaft journaled in said casing and equippedwith a carrier, the upper end of said shaft projecting above the top ofthe casing; an actuating arm secured to the upper end of said shaft; anda closure-plate supported on the inner top wall and working in the spacebetween said top-walls and equipped at its inner end with a shank whichis disposed beneath the inner top-wall and pivoted on said shaft.

JAMES H. BOYE.

